The Lyrics and Inspiration Behind Pink Floyd’s “The Dogs of War”

“The Dogs of War” appears on Pink Floyd’s 1987 album A Momentary Lapse of Reason, the first since Roger Waters’ departure. The lyrics were co-written by David Gilmour and British songwriter Anthony Moore, who had previously worked with Gilmour on his solo album About Face. The title is a direct lift from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar — “Cry ‘Havoc!’ and let slip the dogs of war” — a line that Gilmour liked for its raw, metaphorical punch.

The song’s lyrics paint a grim picture of mercenaries, arms dealers, and the machinery of conflict. Gilmour has said the inspiration came from reading about the Iran–Contra affair and the shadowy networks that fund and fight wars for profit. It’s one of the more politically pointed tracks on the album, though its synth-heavy production and mid-tempo groove divided fans at the time. The “dogs” are both literal soldiers-for-hire and a broader symbol for the chaos unleashed when power interests override human life.